Kurds Won't Stop Short of Independence

Published: February 16, 1992

To the Editor:

A pilot study (presented at the Middle East Studies Association conference in Washington last November) suggests that Iraqi Kurds may be telling Westerners more what Westerners want to hear than what Kurds really want. William Safire has been helping Iraqi Kurds do just that.

In April 1979, Mr. Safire wrote, "Arabs, who talk of 'legitimate rights' of Palestinians, fall silent at the mention of the Kurds, who want only the autonomy that Palestinians have already been offered." In his Jan. 21 column, he writes, "They seek autonomy, not the independence the Turks dread." We wanted to test such claims by putting the question to Kurds themselves, mailing 350 questionnaires to Kurds in the United States and abroad. Of these, 44 percent responded, from 13 states and 12 other countries, as far away as Saudi Arabia and Australia. Respondents, instructed not to identify themselves, indicated only country of origin.

Of the responses, 57 percent came from Iraqi Kurds. While some 77 percent of these indicated they would be satisfied with autonomy, their comments told another story. Phrases such as "for now," "for the time being," "as a temporary solution" indicate that they, much like respondents from other countries, view autonomy as a step on the road to greater political status.

More tellingly, when asked if they believed the Kurdish people want an independent state, some 85.5 percent of Iraqi Kurds answered "yes." When the question was rephrased as to personal aspirations, 99 percent answered "yes." As 97 percent of these Iraqi Kurds indicated, not only is independence worth fighting for, but they were also willing, even eager, to fight. As one put it, "I'd love to."

On the issue of independence, Iraqi Kurds were most closely aligned with those of Turkey, who overwhelmingly rejected autonomy and clearly preferred independence.

This first systematic attempt to gauge Kurdish aspirations indicates that the problem extends far beyond the borders of Iraq. To focus almost exclusively on Iraq, as Mr. Safire has done for more than a decade, is not prudent. Iraq houses no more than 17.5 percent of a Kurdish population of more than 25 million in the region (three times as many live in Turkey; nearly twice as many in Iran).

The Kurds surveyed, irrespective of country of origin, are virtually united in their desire for sovereignty.

The price of failure to report Kurdish aspirations as they are will be paid not only by the Kurds, who will doubtless continue to struggle until they achieve them, but also by Americans, who may find their sons and funds drawn into a fray by words that do not tell them what they need to hear. VERA BEAUDIN SAEEDPOUR Director, Center for Research Kurdish Library Brooklyn, Feb. 3, 1992